The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-06

! pink hand. 1t will not distusa you
innocent sleep. But you'll an
find it, and understand"
1 fancy it was some adaptation of
familiar poem that crept into my brail
just then.
l was at home on a college vacation
: young and hopeful and ambitious.
had not thought much about girls
surely nothing of marriage-for [ wa.
only twenty then, and, naturally, stu
dent.
But there was girl at mothers this
wonderful summer time of which ]
write.
A girl with softintense brown ewes,
and pale, delicate face, relieved by q
brilliant scarlet mouth, and dark, fine
hair. 1 never knew-do not know to
this day whether that girl was hand
some or not, but she charmed me. 1
should have been content to sit all day
and stare at her.
Every tone of her voice was music,
every word concentrated wisdom. At
least that was what [ thought then, and
l did not intend to be spooney.
suppose l had as little respect for
spooneyism as any young fellow in
town.
But that girl-she made me forget all
at once to be boy. She would talk in
a clear, plain way about duty and work
to be done, and l would listen with
varying color, and quick-com1ng breath,
as though an oracle had spoken. Then
1 opened my books; and set about re-
viewing my studies with grand ambi-
ton born somewhere among her words,
differing entirely from the school-boy
ambition had felt before.
Once | studied to keep high place in
my class, to please my mother, and in
order that some day might graduate
with high honors.
Now. felt that there were certain
truths hidden in nature which l ought
to discover: great stores of knowledge
waiting for me to win; heights and
depths of science yet une1plored, and
the great mass CT humanity to be
taught, raised, elevated, that the world
might be better world for my life and
labors upon it.
Oh. the days that 1 dreamed out
grandly in those first wakenings of
scholarly hope and pride. And all for
her sake, who floated about the old
house like a glimpse of light, never
seeming to make the slightest effort for
power or influence, and yet bringing
hope and sunshine wherever she
moved.
1t was while was thus charmed and
dazed by her sweet presence that the
n NF 70
thought how pleasant home would be if
she could always brighten and bless it
with her presence, and l wrote her a
long, long letter, which. when finished
seemed so very formal and stupid that
l dreaded to think how little, quiet
laugh might Turk about her beautiful
mouth, or a surprised, half-angry frown
creep across her fair brow, if she ever
read it.
Then l determined to commit the
whole thing to memory, and repeat it
to her at some convenient time, wonder
ing if l could make her believe it mere
extemporaneous burst of eloquence.
There was not much burst about it,
as | concluded when /. came to rehearse
it; but she was so plain and practical,
perhaps she would like it better, |
thought, than any amount of rhetorical
flourish. 1t certainly eVinced earnest
ness and determination, for 1 had
thrown into it all the force of college
essay, with more heart than any essay
ever held. So | waded patiently
through the whole four pages, and then
waited and watched my chance. 1 did
not dare ask her to walk with me, and
there was never possibility of finding
here alone anywhere about the house,
for when she was not with mother
Tommy, my younger brother, was sure
to be hanging around, and there was
no use in trying to talk sentiment with
his sharp ears on the alert to catch
every word. however softly spoken.
do not know what kindly fate prompted
my Wanderings one warm, bright after
noon, but out in the orchard l found
her, my hearts queen, fast asleep in
the hammock, had hunglow between
two gnarled old apple trees, with one
hand holding the book she had been
reading and the other half closed
beneath her pale, pretty face.
In an instant had forgotten reason
and argument. l tore leaf from my
note book and wrote on it only II love
you" Oh, strange epitome of life
This folded carefully, then slipped it
as carefully into her hand and walked
away, saying softly:
"You will wake and find it. and I'm ierstand,
And all unwares will your answer be
given,
For Shall be watching your dreamy eyes,
Ny fair queen lily, my glimpse of heaven"
Then l climbed into the nearest tree,
where could see her plainly.
She woke soon-woke with futter
ing of her white eyelids and a quick,
soft sigh.
The folded paper rustled beneath her
hand as she raised herself on one elbow;
she drew it out listlessly and read: 1
love you" saw the puzzled look On
her face give place to soft, rosy glow
such wondering, happy look; then
she glanced shyly around, slipped out
of her swinging couch and walked |
away.
1 climbed into the nest she had left
and lay there dreaming for hours, quite
content to know that she did not reject |
my love and that she fully understood
it. for I was sure I had heard her muir